Lacrosse stick head with protected string attachment feature

ABSTRACT

An improved head for attachment to a lacrosse stick is provided. The head has a bar-shaped string attachment feature on a pocket-facing side of the transverse wall (or “scoop”)  212  joining the sidewalls at the distal end of head  204  to provide a protected area for the attachment of vertically-oriented strings and/or shooting strings forming the lacrosse stick pocket. The string attachment feature provides the additional advantage of negating the necessity for through-holes in scoop  212  that typically weaken what is already a vulnerable portion of head  204  due to its likelihood of receiving repeated impacts with the playing surface or other equipment during play. The improved string attachment member further advantageously provides more “give”, or flexibility, to the pocket strung thereon.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application derives priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application 52/160,090 filed 12 May 2015.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the invention

The present invention relates to lacrosse equipment and, more particularly, to an improved lacrosse stick head adapted for improved strength and playing characteristics.

2. Description of the Background

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional lacrosse stick 100 having a handle 102 and a double-wall synthetic head 104. Head 104 comprises a generally V-shaped frame having a juncture 106, sidewalls 108 and 110, a transverse wall (or “scoop”) 112 joining the sidewalls at their ends opposite juncture 106, and a stop member 114 joining sidewalls 108 and 110 at their ends nearest juncture 106. As shown, handle 102 fits into and through juncture 106, and abuts stop member 114. A screw or other fastener placed through an opening 107 in juncture 106 secures handle 102 to head 104.

For traditionally-strung pockets (which have strings instead of mesh), thongs 12 made of leather or synthetic material extend vertically from upper thong holes 116 in transverse wall 112 to lower thong holes 118 in stop member 114. Upper thong holes 116 were typically located on tabs 117 that extend inwardly from the scoop 112. FIG. 1 shows four pairs (116, 118) of thong holes that can accept four thongs. To complete the pocket web, the thongs have nylon cross-strings threaded around the thongs and secured directly to string holes 120 in sidewalls 108 and 110, forming any number of diamond patterns. Alternatively, the cross-stringing may be secured to a perimeter string that extends around the perimeter of the head 104, and which facilitates tying of horizontal cross stringing and/or vertical thongs to string holes 120, 116 along the sidewalls 108, 110 and in the scoop 112. Finally, one Of more throwing Of shooting strings extend transversely between the upper portions of sidewalls 108 and 110, optionally attaching to string holes 124. A string or thong is tied off or looped through each string hole 120, 124 and thong hole 116, 118, and it is at these twisted points of attachment that the strings/thongs are most prone to fraying or breaking.

During a lacrosse game, each player uses the handle of his or her lacrosse stick 100 to control the motion of the head 104 in order to perform the necessary functions of game play. The player must perform maneuvers such as scooping the ball from the ground into the pocket, cradling the ball in the pocket, throwing a ball from the pocket to another player or shooting the ball towards a goal, performing a stick check wherein one player uses a part of his stick to contact the stick or body of another player, etc. Because the ball is carried in the pocket of the head 104, head 104 is often subject to repeated impact during the course of the game, either from the stick handler using his stick to impact other players or equipment, or from opposing players attempting to jar the ball loose from the pocket. Due to its position at the distal end of the stick 100, the material that forms scoop 112 usually bears the brunt of these impacts, causing the scoop 112 to repeatedly bend, flex, and vibrate. Another maneuver that is fundamental to game play involves scraping the back of head 104 along the ground to scoop a lacrosse ball into the pocket. While lacrosse is commonly played on a level, grass playing surface, an increasing number of lacrosse fields utilize a synthetic turf playing surface, a harder surface that makes impacts between the bead 104 and the ground even more forceful and abrasive than on a natural playing surface.

The traditional lacrosse head configuration of FIG. 1 is in no way designed to protect the pocket from wear and tear, and leaves the strings/thongs completely exposed where they loop through stung holes 120, 124 or thong holes 116, 118. Moreover, because of all of the various forces acting on head 104, the relatively thin strip of material making up scoop 112 is vulnerable to cracking, breaking and/or abrasion over time. The scoop 112 area is made less durable by the presence of string holes 116 which interrupt the molding. Even when holes 116 are placed on a scalloped portion of scoop 112 or on tabs 117, the strain exerted on scoop 112 and the tabs 117 weakens them both and makes them more prone to breakage. The exposed string holes 120, 124 and thong holes 116, 118 and the vulnerability of strings/thongs that extend through leaves them extremely susceptible to wear and tear from the playing surface, much like the bottom surface of a snow shovel. Moreover, the discontinuous/interrupted molding of head 104 creates break-points prone to material failure.

Of course, lacrosse equipment with a higher risk of breakage is undesirable. The risk that players will have to replace a broken head or worn out string during game play creates a need for an improved scoop design. While worn stringing usually breaks over time, the pocket tensions created from stringing are important to maintain and as stringing deteriorates, that tension can be lost and playability affected. Maintaining the desired amount of tension in a lacrosse stick pocket is essential for good ball handling and control during game play.

What is needed is a lacrosse stick head that allows for the attachment of various stringing configurations (e.g., including a top string) to form a pocket within the head, but which beneficially protects those strings at their points-of-attachment to the scoop from wear and tear that would otherwise result from repeated contact with, and scraping along, the playing surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved lacrosse head with one or more cleat(s) located on the front side of the scoop for securement of the thongs, cross-stringing and/or perimeter stringing. The cleat(s) may be one or more inserts that are molded into the lacrosse head frame via insert molding and other known methods, or it may be part of the monolithic head frame itself and not a separate part.

In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide such an improved lacrosse head which provides a protected area for the attachment of vertically-oriented strings that form the lacrosse stick pocket.

It is yet an additional object of the present invention to eliminate through-holes in the scoop, which can adversely affect the scoop's durability.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved stringing member that advantageously provides more “give”, or pocket flex, to the pocket strung thereon.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, its objects and advantages, refer to the remaining specification and to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment and certain modifications thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of a prior art lacrosse head.

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of the improved lacrosse head according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of the improved lacrosse head according to a first embodiment of the present invention as strung to form a lacrosse pocket.

FIG. 4 illustrates a back view of the improved lacrosse head according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a detail front perspective view of the improved scoop including an integral cleat according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a detail back perspective view of the improved scoop including an integral cleat according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a detail top view of the improved scoop including an integral cleat according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates a detail front view of the improved scoop including an integral cleat having a top string laced thereon according to the present invention.

FIG. 9A is a composite diagram (A, B) of the improved scoop including a cleat formed as an insert according to a second embodiment of the present invention, as isolated from the scoop alone and as inserted into the scoop.

FIG. 9B is a diagram of the improved scoop including a cleat formed as an insert according to a second embodiment of the present invention, as inserted into the scoop.

FIG. 10 illustrates a detail front view of an alternative configuration of the cleat insert according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates a detail front view of an alternative configuration of the cleat insert according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 illustrates a detail front view of an alternative configuration of the cleat insert according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 illustrates yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 2 depicts an embodiment of the improved lacrosse head 204 with cleat 300 according to the present invention. Head 204 is preferably a double-wall synthetic head comprising a generally V-shaped frame having a juncture 206, sidewalls 208 and 210, a transverse wall (or “scoop”) 212 joining the sidewalls at their ends opposite juncture 206, and a stop member 214 joining sidewalls 208 and 210 at their ends nearest juncture 206. Although not shown in FIG. 2, a lacrosse stick handle fits into and through juncture 206, and abuts stop member 214. A screw or other fastener placed through an opening in stop member 214 (not shown) secures the handle to head 204. In this embodiment the cleat 300 comprises a raised post extending inwardly of scoop 212 along a majority of its length. For purposes of this disclosure “cleat” is herein defined as one or more exposed posts integrally molded or molded into the lacrosse head 204 for securing any of the thongs, cross-stringing and/or perimeter stringing thereto.

With reference to FIG. 3, head 204 may also comprise lower string holes 218 in stop member 214 and string holes 220 in sidewalls 208 and 210 to accept leather or synthetic strings (including optional throwing or shooting strings). Sidewalls 208 and 210 and scoop 212 have an inside face (FIGS. 2-3), an outside face (FIG. 4), a bottom rail edge from which the pocket is traditionally strung, and a top rail edge opposite the bottom rail edge. Similarly, stop member 214 has an inside face (FIGS. 2-3), a bottom edge from which the pocket is strung, and a top edge opposite the bottom edge. As in the prior art head 104, the inside face of a conventional sidewall or stop member may be substantially perpendicular to the plane of the front face of head 204, while the top edge of a sidewalls 208, 210 may be angled away from the pocket, such that the outer edge of the top edge is closer to the bottom rail than)s, the inner edge of the top rail.

Unlike the prior art scoop 112 necessarily having through-holes 116 therein, scoop 212 according to the present invention needs no through-holes for attachment of strings or otherwise. Instead, according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, thongs 250 (see FIG. 3) are strung between stop member 214 and an integral cleat 300 disposed on the inside face (pocket facing side) of scoop 212.

As shown in FIG. 5, the exposed portion of cleat 300 may have an elongate raised section running roughly parallel to the inside face of scoop 212 and with one or more struts 301 along the length thereof to support the raised portion of cleat 300 above scoop 212. Cleat 300 may be one or more cylindrical rod-shaped wire-frame structures, preferably formed of semi-flexible thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), or alternatively of any suitable material including metal. Cleat(s) 300 have a height (as measured along the face of pocket facing side 212A of scoop 212) less than that of scoop 212, and preferably on the order of 1/16-¼ the height of scoop 212, such that scoop 212 extends both above and below cleat 300 to protect any strings 250 attached thereto from contact with the ground or other equipment during play. According to one embodiment as shown in FIG. 8, cleat 300 is preferably disposed below a lip 222 on the upper (pocket side) edge of the inside face 212A of scoop 212 to provide further protection for strings 250 strung to cleat 300. In this embodiment, lip 222 may be integrally formed with scoop 212 to provide an area of increased thickness (between inside 212A and outside 212B faces of scoop 212) approximately in the center thereof as measured between sidewalls 208, 210, but may also be temporarily or permanently affixed to scoop 212 and serve as housing for the elongate section of cleat 300, providing cleat 300 with greater stability and strength. Lip 222 may be in the form of a wedge with the thick end facing towards the interior of head 204 and the remainder thereof tapering towards the distal tip of head 204. Also as shown in FIG. 8, lip 222 may increase in width towards the distal end of head 204. The thickness of lip 222 may provide additional strength to the tip of scoop 212 and serve as a surface for the placement of logos or other indicia.

FIG. 8 depicts cleat 300 disposed below lip 222 to provide additional protection from impact to strings 250 strung on cleat 300. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 5, lip 222 may be an integral part of cleat 300 such that cleat 300 either passes through lip 222, or lip 222 or serves as an end point for mirror images sides of cleat 300 on either side of lip 222. in another alternative embodiment (not shown), lip 222 may be omitted altogether.

In a preferred embodiment, integral cleat 300 has four distinct struts 301 as points of attachment to scoop 212 (not including lip 222). As shown in FIG. 8, cleat 300 is set off from the inside face 212A of scoop 212 by a distance sufficient to allow strings 250 to be wrapped underneath and around cleat 300 for purposes of securing strings 250 to cleat 300. Such preferred distance or gap may be between 0.1-1 cm. Accordingly, intersection points 301 to cleat 300 may be connectors descending perpendicularly from cleat 300 towards the inside face 212A of scoop 212. One skilled in the art should readily understand that instead of raising cleat 300, the inside face of scoop 212 may be molded with one or more recesses or through-holes and the cleat(s) inset into said recesses/holes, likewise protecting the strings/thongs attached thereto. However, this scoop configuration is less durable as described above.

While the preferred embodiment herein includes four struts 301 for support in addition to lip 222, it will be understood that two or more struts 301 may be used as a matter of design choice to maintain a desired spacing between adjacent strings 250 that are strung in between struts 301. Cleat 300 (or series of discrete cleats) preferably extends at least one half of the length of scoop 212, and more preferably approximately 75-90% of the length of scoop 212. Cleat 300 is preferably centered along the length of scoop 212 to accommodate attachment of strings 250 for any variation of stringing design desired by the manufacturer or player.

While TPU is disclosed herein as the preferred material for cleat 300, it will be understood that cleat 300 may be formed of any material with sufficient elasticity and strength to withstand repeated impact, abrasion and tugging as head 204 makes impacts with the ground and/or other pieces of equipment. In addition or as an alternative to TPU, cleat 300 may be made of Utechllan/Elastollan, TPU/TPR/TPE (Hytrel), Nylon (PA6 or PA12), Acetal (Delrin), or Polypropylene Silicone, or even metal (e.g., stainless) wire.

An alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown with reference to FIGS. 9A-B. As shown therein, improvements to the durability and lifespan of a lacrosse stick head may be realized through the use of a cleat insert 400 in substantially the same configuration as integral cleat 300. Cleat insert 400 is designed to be insert molded into the inside face 212A of scoop 212 to provide an attachment point for vertically-oriented strings 250 and/or top string 119. In a preferred embodiment, cleat insert 400 is designed to fit underneath an integral lip 222 on the inside face 212A of scoop 212 as described above.

The bottom, pocket facing side of cleat insert 400 is designed to be substantially identical in shape to the cylindrical rod-shaped section of integral cleat 300, serving as an attachment point for strings 250. Thus, cleat insert 400 has a bottom rail 401, which may optionally be broken into two sections as shown in FIG. 9A to provide an open space at the bottom edge of cleat insert 400 on top of which lip 222 may rest upon insertion of cleat insert 400 onto the inside face 212A of scoop 212. According to the instant embodiment, cleat insert 400 further comprises a top rail 402 sized and shaped to fit cooperatively with the inside face 212A of scoop 212, allowing cleat insert 400 to be affixed to inside face 212A of scoop 212 by insert molding or another means known in the art. In addition, cleat insert 400 preferably comprises one or more (six are shown in 9A-B) intersection points or connectors 403 securing bottom rail 401 to top rail 403. As above for integral cleat 300, intersection points 403 may be spaced along bottom 401 and top 402 rails a suitable distance to allow ease of attachment of one or more strings 250 to lower rail 401 and/or intersection points 403 according to one or more desired stringing configurations. Cleat insert 400 as inserted into head 204 is depicted in FIG. 9B. In a preferred embodiment, during the insert molding process to attach cleat insert 400 to scoop 212, the nylon or other material forming scoop 212 envelopes and encapsulates top rail 402 of cleat insert 400, forming a “spine” in the interior of scoop 212 and providing even more added strength to scoop 212.

Additional alternative embodiment to cleat insert 400 are shown in FIGS. 10-12. As shown therein, the combination of top 403 and bottom 401 rails and intersection points 403 may be varied based on design preference and to accommodate various stringing configurations or impart additional strength to the interior surface 212A of scoop 212. As shown in FIG. 10, cleat insert 400 may comprise a single solid bottom rail 401 that fits underneath lip 222 on scoop 212. As shown in FIG. 11, cleat insert 400 may comprise one or more middle rails 404 bridging the gap between adjacent intersection points 403.

FIG. 13 illustrates yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, cleat(s) 500 is formed as one or more elongate rods or strings 500 that may be integrally formed, molded-in, or insertable into cutouts or molded-in recesses 501 in scoop 212. Cutouts/recesses 501 may be advantageously formed through a portion of the thickness of scoop 212 at locations along the length of scoop 212 designed to accept vertically-oriented strings 250. The remaining, solid portions of scoop 212 may be fitted with a through-hole along the length of scoop 212 through which cleat 500 may be threaded, where cleat 500 is a single continuous member, or with attachment points (not shown) at the sidewalk of cutouts 501 to accept the distal ends of cleats 500, where cleat 500 is formed of distinct segments. Cutouts 501 may additionally comprise slots 503 that open to the back of scoop 212 to facilitate threading strings 250 around cleats 500.

With respect to each of the embodiments described herein, in use, a lacrosse stick pocket is formed by stringing leather or synthetic strings 250 from lower string holes 218 in stop member 214 up to and around cleat 300/400/500, at which point they may be tied off or, as shown in FIGS. 7-8 (with respect to the first embodiment of the present invention), have their ends secured through one or more stringing holes 220 in sidewalls 208, 210. Because strings 250 are not directly attached to, nor strung through holes in, scoop 212, stringing that has conventionally passed through the scoop and been at risk, to wear and tear during play is no longer susceptible to wearing and tearing to this great of a degree. An additional benefit to this design is the absence of any through-holes directly in scoop 212, resulting in a solid scoop that is able to withstand greater forces applied to it via contact with the ground and other equipment during play, lowering the instances of cracking or breaking of scoop 112. Further, cleats 300/400/500 allows variation in stringing patterns unlike conventional, holed scoops, as the bar-like cleat section offers a variety of locations along its length where stringing can be secured.

Thus, the present invention addresses scoop stringing wear and tear in a unique manner by enabling a lacrosse head to be strung without using scoop openings, which allows a solid, and thus stronger, scoop, less prone to cracking and breakage. Moreover, a primary advantage of the present invention is that once fully strung, no portion of strings 250 are exposed at the distal end of head 204 past scoop 212. This prevents undue wear and tear on strings 250 at their attachment points to scoop 212, which previously represented a weak point of strings 250 due wearing and eventual breakage that is easily exacerbated by sliding or scooping of the head and strings along the ground or other playing surface, a basic fundamental of the game of lacrosse.

A secondary advantage of the cleats 300/400/500 according to the present invention is a degree of added “give” from the cleats 300/400/500 when a ball is caught and tension is created in the pocket. Such additional flexibility or “bounce” to the pocket creates a different feel in catching and throwing the ball during game play, which may be preferred by some players.

Having now fully set forth the preferred embodiments and certain modifications of the concept underlying the present invention, various other embodiments as well as certain variations and modifications of the embodiments herein shown and described will obviously occur to those skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with said underlying concept. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically set forth in the appended claims. 

We claim:
 1. A head for a lacrosse stick comprising: a closed-loop generally V-shaped frame having two side walk joined on one end to a stop member and diverging therefrom to a transverse scoop joining the opposing ends of said side walls opposite of said stop member to define an internal area for supporting a lacrosse pocket therein, said transverse scoop having an inside face angled toward said internal area and an outside face, at least one deal elevated above the inside face of said transverse scoop for securing said lacrosse pocket thereto.
 2. The head for a lacrosse stick according to claim 1, wherein said at least one cleat comprises a single cleat extending along at least one half of said transverse scoop.
 3. The head for a lacrosse stick according to claim 1, wherein said at least one cleat comprises a single cleat extending within a range of from 75-90% of a length of said transverse scoop.
 4. The head for a lacrosse stick according to claim 1, wherein said at least one cleat comprises a plurality of cleats aligned end-to-end and extending along at least one half of said transverse scoop.
 5. The head for a lacrosse stick according to claim 1, wherein said at least one cleat comprises a plurality of cleats aligned end-to-end and extending within a range of from 75-90% of a length of said transverse scoop.
 6. The head for a lacrosse stick according to claim 1, wherein said at least one cleat comprises an elongate raised rail supported on opposing endwise struts.
 7. The head for a lacrosse stick according to claim 1, wherein said at least one cleat comprises an elongate raised rail supported by a surface feature of said transverse scoop.
 8. The head for a lacrosse stick according to claim 7, wherein said at least one cleat comprises an elongate raised rail supported at one end by an endwise strut and at another end by a surface feature of said transverse scoop.
 9. The head for a lacrosse stick according to claim 1, wherein said at least one cleat comprises an elongate rail molded into said transverse scoop.
 10. The head for a lacrosse stick according to claim 9, wherein said elongate rail traverses a plurality of through-holes through said transverse scoop.
 11. The head for a lacrosse stick according to claim 1, wherein said transverse scoop is a continuous molded member devoid of through-holes.
 12. The head for a lacrosse stick according to claim 9, wherein said elongate rail traverses a plurality of recesses molded in said transverse scoop.
 13. A lacrosse stick head, comprising: two laterally extending rails that join to form a stop member at a first end and are connected by a solid transverse element without openings at a second end, said transverse element being substantially perpendicular to said laterally extending rails, said transverse element having an inner surface facing said stop member; a cleat disposed on said inner surface, a portion of said cleat being substantially parallel to said transverse element, said parallel portion and said inner surface having a gap between them; wherein said gap is adapted to accept the attachment of strings for lacrosse stick pocket. two laterally extending rails that join to form a stop member at a first end and are connected by a solid transverse element without openings at a second end, said transverse element being substantially perpendicular to said laterally extending rails, said transverse scoop having an inner surface facing said stop member; a cleat disposed on the inner surface of said scoop, at least a portion of said cleat being substantially parallel to said transverse scoop, the parallel portion of said cleat and the inner surface of said scoop having a gap between them; wherein said cleat is configured for attachment of strings for a lacrosse stick pocket.
 14. The lacrosse stick head according to claim 13, wherein said two laterally extending rails extend along at least one half of said transverse scoop.
 15. The lacrosse stick head according to claim 13, wherein said two laterally extending rails extending within a range of from 75-90% of a length of said transverse scoop.
 16. The lacrosse stick head according to claim 13, wherein said two laterally extending rails are supported centrally on said transverse scoop by a raised surface feature of said transverse scoop.
 17. The lacrosse stick head according to claim 13, wherein said two laterally extending rails are integrally-molded into the transverse scoop.
 18. The lacrosse stick head according to claim 17, wherein said two laterally extending rails are recessed in the transverse scoop.
 19. The lacrosse stick head according to claim 18, wherein said two laterally extending rails traverse a plurality of through-holes through said transverse scoop.
 20. The lacrosse stick head according to claim 13, wherein said transverse scoop is a continuous molded member devoid of through-holes.
 21. The lacrosse stick bead according to claim 13, wherein said two laterally extending rails traverse a plurality of recesses molded in said transverse scoop. 